Singing lessons

The outside of this Attic cup in Berlin was decorated by Douris, the same artist who signed our fragment. Here boys play the lyre but also sing with musical accompaniment. At the top centre, an older man holds a scroll for a youth to sing. Perhaps in more advanced lesson the boy would sing and play the lyre that hangs above him. The text on the scroll is difficult to read, but probably says “Muse, I begin to sing for myself of fine-flowing Scamander” mimicking an epic invocation.

From later periods, Greek musical notation survives, providing us with the melody for ancient songs. This recording, performed by Dr. James Lloyd, demonstrates the Seikilos Song, found on a grave marker in modern-day Turkey.This short song dates to the 1st or 2nd century CE, making it the earliest complete song with musical notation. It translates as: “While you live, shine / have no grief at all / life exists only for a short while / and Time demands his due.”

See more information about this kylix on the Berlin Museum's online database at http://www.smb-digital.de/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=686551&viewType=detailView